My Wrestlemania thoughts and predictions

Ten years after WCW closed it’s doors and The Undertaker faced Triple H for the first time at the event, WrestleMania comes to Atlanta, Georgia this Sunday night. While it’s a show that didn’t catch my eye at first glance, the card has been built well and looks extremely solid. Let’s take this match by match and I’ll break down what I think and maybe hope what will happen.

WWE Championship

The Miz (c) vs. John Cena

A few moths ago, I thought this match was a bad idea for WrestleMania. This push straight to the top for Miz seemed rushed and in my opinion, his matches with Orton were nothing to write home about. However, this match has grown on me over the past six weeks. The way The Miz has looked and the involvement of The Rock have been booked very well thus far and one can only hope it leads to a great moment at WrestleMania. It won’t be a great match but it should be entertaining considering who’s involved. As much as I believe a win would benefit The Miz, I’m picking Cena to win the WWE Championship simply because John Cena has won all but one WrestleMania match and I’m not sure there is anyone on Raw past Cena and Orton that Miz could feud with over the WWE Title as of this writing.

Winner and New WWE Champion: John Cena

World Heavyweight Championship

Edge (c) vs. Alberto Del Rio

This is a match I’m looking forward to. I may be in the minority here but I am a huge fan of Del Rio. The moment he debuted on SmackDown, I knew he was something special. I was a bit shocked to see him win the Royal Rumble but it was a pleasant surprise. Edge has looked better and better in the ring over the past few months as well. Possibly the best that he’s been in a long time in my opinion. The involvement of Christian is interesting but could turn into a big mistake if the WWE turns him heel at WrestleMania. It’s been done before and this match, unless it somehow becomes a Triple Threat, which I highly doubt, should not feature Christian too much. But we all know it will.

Winner and New World Heavyweight Champion: Alberto Del Rio

The Undertaker vs. Triple H

The best part about this match is that it’s No Holds Barred. These two are legends and probably the best of the best in WWE history. They told an amazing story on Raw and this match should be very good. I’m a bit weary of this match due to all of the reports of The Undertaker’s bad shoulder and that he hasn’t worked a match since October. However, like I said the fact that it’s No Holds Barred should hide a lot of the limitations that would be at the forefront if this match was simply one on one. And of course, Shawn Michaels in some way, shape or form will get involved in this match. It should be a good match with a great story and it should close the show. And of course, the streak shall continue for another year.

Winner: The Undertaker

United States Championship

Sheamus (c) vs. Daniel Bryan

The only other championship match on the card as of now. This match should be really good. Sheamus has done a great job since arriving in the WWE and Daniel Bryan has proven that he can’t have a bad match, even if he tried. This match is a potential show stealer and will only benefit both men no matter the result. As much as I’d like to pick Bryan getting revenge and taking back his championship, I can see Sheamus retaining and having a nice lengthy run with the title. Bryan gave the US Title credibility and now Sheamus as Champion means a legit main event talent can now elevate others to the next level while competing over that belt. I like this feud, I like this match and I’m going with Sheamus getting the victory and Bryan heading over to SmackDown during the Draft.

Winner and Still United States Champion: Sheamus

CM Punk vs. Randy Orton

This is an interesting match. I’m surprised that the WWE developed a feud based on something that happened over two years ago. Yet, this can be a good thing. Randy Orton is a much better face than heel and has looked pretty good over the past year. However this match is all about Punk. Can Punk beat Randy Orton? Is he over enough for WWE Creative to give him the win over a major Superstar on the biggest pay per view of the year? I believe the answer to those questions is yes. Punk needs to win this match, whether he wins it clean or not. Orton won last year at WrestleMania and in the process made people forget about Ted DiBiase and almost did the same for Cody Rhodes. I’m not saying that people will forget about CM Punk if he loses. It all goes back to who benefits more from a win and it’s CM Punk.

Winner: CM Punk

Rey Mysterio vs. Cody Rhodes

This match doesn’t interest me too much. Cody seems like a guy who was totally lost in 2010. He almost resembled someone who was close to being endeavored before he became “dashing.” Through it all, he just seemed like someone who was there but not doing anything special. I’m not sure why Creative made this match happen and who knows, maybe it’ll be better than I expect. I think the safe money is on Rey but I can only hope that this match helps Cody out and get him to have a meaningful 2011.

Winner: Rey Mysterio

The Corre vs. The Big Show, Kane, Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov

I’m very happy that Barrett, Jackson, Slater and Gabriel have made it to WrestleMania. Barrett and Gabriel in particular as they have proven to be the best to come from NXT, in addition to Daniel Bryan. The opposition looks odd on paper though, doesn’t it? The Big Show teaming with Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov. Two guys who have been stuck in a weak WWE tag team division since last summer. And those three are teaming with a guy who put his brother in a vegetative state last Memorial Day weekend and then buried him alive last fall? I’m not sure how Kane became a face but whatever. I like the talent in this match. My biggest fear is that this contest will be rushed the way the eight man tag at WrestleMania 23 was. The Corre has it all right now on SmackDown but unfortunately for them, they’ll fall at WrestleMania with Big Show knocking out Ezekiel Jackson.

Winners: The Big Show, Kane, Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov

John Morrison, Trish Stratus and Snooki vs. Dolph Ziggler and LayCool

Like stated in the above match, I’m not a fan of matches that are rushed. In a way though, I hope this match is. I’m not a big fan of Six Person tags but that part is ok. I’m not too big of a fan of Michelle McCool and Layla but that part is still ok. But Snooki from the Jersey Shore is sharing the spotlight with John Morrison, Dolph Ziggler and Trish Stratus? The match should be decent and I expect the faces to go over as Snooki probably takes out Vickie Guerrero before pinning Layla. At least we get to see Trish again and Morrison gets a much needed win at WrestleMania. Too bad for Dolph though.

Winners: John Morrison, Trish Stratus and Snooki

Jerry Lawler vs. Michael Cole

I am loving the build to this match. You just want to see Lawler destroy Michael Cole and I know he will. With Austin as the referee, you’ll probably see a decent amount of action between him and Jack Swagger. Though I can actually see Swagger standing by Cole and taking a Stunner right before Austin has the bell ring. The look on Cole’s face would be priceless, knowing it will truly be one on one. No doubt about it, Jerry Lawler easily wins his first WrestleMania match as Jim Ross calls it from the announcer’s table.

WrestleMania 27 wasn’t exactly shaping up to be a classic. I’m sure on paper some people don’t see this as a WrestleMania card. However the WWE did an excellent job on building the main event matches and getting huge exposure by bringing Snooki in (like her or not, she has that impact) and of course by bringing back The Rock. It’s going to be a WrestleMania that focuses on the future as well as the present and that is a great thing. I expect this Mania to be just as good as last year’s, if not better.

i don not like orton as a face. i dont think it fits him at all. i liked him when he was the heel people liked. now little kids love him. just because the crowd is into someone doesnt mean they have to be a face. and i like cody rhodes new gimmick. his dashing thing was too silly. now hes darker, music is darker, wears all black, i think its great for him. he has alot of talent. i wouldve liked to have seen a cage match for the punk/orton. only because it would add to the look of wrestlemania. something special as there is no MITB match. i got my botch radar up for the trish snooki 3 way. not interested at all in corre/showkane match. but i do think gabriel & barrett have talent. i like bryan and the ginger, good 4them to be on card. i love del rio and i guess im curious as to what the rock will do. but he probably end up helping cena win and then a love fest as cena celebrates. hopefully not too many botches in the taker hhh thing. cole/lawler should be fun to see. makes me sick to think the wwe had to get “non current stars” to make this, taker hasnt been around, hhh gona a year, rock gone 7 years, trish gone, snooki, hbk. think of this card without those names. wwe needs to build on their current stars better.

“I’m picking Cena to win the WWE Championship simply because John Cena has won all but one WrestleMania match and I’m not sure there is anyone on Raw past Cena and Orton that Miz could feud with over the WWE Title ”

1.) WWE Championship Match: The Miz (c) vs. John Cena:
This match I’m looking forward to see the most just because of how The Rock will be involved in it somehow. I love how this feud was centered around The Rock, it gives this feud a good spark. The Miz has improved a lot and has been a good WWE Champion but I see John Cena winning here and then afterwards getting his candyass kicked all over Atlanta by The Great One. Hell, maybe even The Rock will leave Wrestlemania as the WWE Champion, who knows.

2.) No Holds Barred Match: The Undertaker vs. Triple H
This should and probably will be the match of the night as these two wrestlers are the only real legends (“last outlaws”) left in the WWE. At first I didn’t like how they haven’t even had matches yet since their returns on 2/21/11 but it gives this match a better mystique. Even though these two faced off 10 years ago at Wrestlemania 17 I can see this match definitely surpassing that one. My prediction to win is The Undertaker going 19-0; no way Triple H breaks the streak.

3.) Randy Orton vs. CM Punk
In my opinion, this match could steal the show by having two very talented wrestlers going one on one without any gimmicks in their match. I really enjoyed this storyline as Orton has single-handedly taken out the entire New Nexus and there’s even some history here as Orton took out Punk 2 years ago with a punt to the skull. My prediction to win is Orton because the last 2 weeks on Raw Punk has owned Orton with the whole Randy Orton’s “wife” angle and then last week hitting the GTS in his hometown of Chicago.

4.) World Heavyweight Championship Match: Edge (c, w/Christian) vs. Alberto Del Rio (w/Ricardo Rodriguez and Brodus Clay)
I wish Christian was put into this match to make it a triple threat seeing as he beat Del Rio clean 2 weeks in a row on Smackdown. I think Del Rio is still too new to win a world title just yet. With that being said my prediction to win this is Edge to set up the much anticipated rivalry of Edge vs. Christian (former tag team partners/champions and best friends collide).

5.) Jerry “The King” Lawler vs. Michael Cole (w/Jack Swagger) Special Guest Referee: Stone Cold Steve Austin
This feud has been great especially adding Austin to the mix. I fully expect Cole to get his ass handed to him by Lawler and Austin. I’m also expecting a lot of Stone Cold Stunners in this one. My prediction to win is Jerry “The King” Lawler.

6.) John Morrison, Trish Stratus, Snooki vs. Dolph Ziggler and Lay-Cool (w/Vickie Guerrero)
I’m very interested in seeing what’s going to go down in this match. I’m excited to see Trish back too. A lot of people are hating on the fact that Snooki actually has a match at Wrestlemania, but I think it’s a smart way to get more viewers for the show. Snooki is definitely going to take out Vickie Guerrero. My prediction to win this is Snooki’s team.

7.) Big Show, Kane, Santino Marrella, Kofi Kingston vs. The Corre
Kofi Kingston has replaced the “injured” Vladimir Kozlov in this one. This match should be exciting if given enough time. My prediction to win this match is The Corre because they have been pretty dominant in recent weeks taking out the Big Show and Kane on Smackdown and to also show that Barrett hasn’t missed a step going from the leader of The Nexus to being a part of The Corre. There also obviously has to be some heel winners on the show.

8.) United States Championship Match: Sheamus (c) vs. Daniel Bryan
This match is probably going to be kind of quick but good. These two men are pretty efficient in the squared circle. My prediction to win is Sheamus simply because he just won the title recently on Raw in the past number of weeks.

9.) Rey Mysterio vs. Cody Rhodes
This match should also be pretty fast but good as well. My prediction to win is Cody Rhodes because he needs the win a lot more than Mysterio does.